New to City Lit? Use the information below to identify the class you need
Want to study a Classical language at City Lit, but unsure where to begin? City Lit offers everything from classes for complete beginners to advanced study groups in which students read and discuss Classical literature. Our courses run from Level 1 to Level 5, and you're welcome to jump in at the point that's suitable for you. The information below provides details on the different levels on offer, indicating the degree of prior knowledge required and what you will achieve by the end of each level.
Once you've identified the class you need, use the following links to browse upcoming modules:
Browse all Classical and New Testament Greek courses.
Browse all Biblical Hebrew courses.
Students wishing to study Medieval Latin or New Testament Greek should have completed levels 1 and 2 of our Classical Latin/Greek courses, or have equivalent knowledge.
Detailed information on Sanskrit and Biblical Hebrew courses will be available on this page soon. For now, please use the links above to browse courses and choose your level using the information provided in the course outlines.
If you need further advice, use the contact details at the bottom of this page to get in touch with the Classics department.
Complete beginners
Suitable if you...
...have no previous knowledge and you have never studied a Classical language before.
Classical Greek - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Explain what is a noun, a pronoun, an adjective and a case; differentiate between a subject and an object + Level 1 skills (see below).
Latin - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Explain what is a noun, a pronoun, an adjective, a case, differentiate between a subject and an object + Level 1 skills (see below).
Complete beginners
Suitable if you...
...have no or little previous knowledge but you are familiar with grammar terminology such as cases, genders, verb aspects and moods and how they are applied.
Classical Greek - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Make adjectives agree with nouns, decline nouns and pronouns, use negatives, name the prepositions with accusative and dative, conjugate verbs in the present indicative and in the imperative mood, apply elision and crasis [generally up to section 4D of Reading Greek by Cambridge University Press]
Latin - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Conjugate a verb in the present indicative, decline nouns and adjectives, conjugate regular and irregular verbs in the imperative mood, identify the present infinitive active, conjugate verbs in the future indicative, read and pronounce numbers from 0 to 100, recognise deponent verbs in the present, imperative and future [generally up to section 2C or 2D of Reading Latin by Cambridge University Press]
Level 2
Suitable if you...
...have studied Classical Greek/Latin for 1 year.
Classical Greek - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Conjugate verbs in the imperfect indicative; choose the right position of adjectives; conjugate verbs in the future, explain the meaning of middle voice, transform direct speech in indirect speech, apply the approriate particles, conjugate verbs in the aorist, build the present infinitive, form the comparative and superlative of adjectives, name the uses of the genitive case, conjugate verbs in the present optative [generally up to 9A or 9B of Reading Greek]
Latin - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Conjugate verbs in the perfect indicative, use comparatives and superlatives with adjectives and adverbs, conjugate verbs in the perfect and future participle, conjugate verbs in the imperfect indicative, identify usage of genitive, ablative and locative, [generally up to 4C or Reading Latin]
Level 3 lower/upper
Suitable if you...
...have studied for at least 2 years or have obtained GCSE/O level in Greek/Latin (or equivalent).
Classical Greek - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Name the uses of the dative case, apply the correct cases to express the idea of time, form the aorist optative, choose the correcr form and use of the relative pronoun, construct sentences using the passive forms, form the comparative and superlative of adverbs [generally up to 12A or 12B]
Latin - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Use the passive form, conjugate verbs in the subjunctive, recognise reported speech, name usages of gerundive [generally up to section 5F or 5G]
Level 4 lower/upper
Suitable if you...
...have studied Classical Greek/Latin for at least 3 years and you would like to make the transition from reading adapted to original texts. Suitable also if you have an A Level (or equivalent).
Classical Greek - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Conjugate verbs in the aorist passive, build indirect/reported speech using the infinitive, build various forms of conditional clauses; build the perfect indicative, the future optative and the subjunctive.
Latin - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
Describe what hendecasyllables are, how hexameter is formed; start translating prose and poetry unaided.
Level 5 and over
Suitable if you...
...have an advanced knowledge of the language and want to read, translate and analyse original texts.
Classical Greek - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
No grammar covered unless requested by the students; each year the tutor and the students will choose which text(s) to read.
Latin - when you have finished this level, you will be able to:
No grammar covered unless requested by the students; we usually read two texts per year: poetry, or prose.
Any queries?
>>If you require further advice, get in touch with the Classics Department at classics@citylit.ac.uk or give us a call on 020 7492 2644.
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>>Click here to find out more about ancient civilisations at City Lit.
>>Click here to find out more about Classical languages at City Lit.